Claw-bar for drawing railroad-spikes.



:No. 686,155; Patented Nov. 5, I90]. N; L. SMITHAM.

CLAW BAH FOR DRAWING BAILROADSPIKES.

(Application filed June 8, 1901.)

(N0 Modgl.)

UNITED STATES PA'IENT @Frrcn.

NICHOLAS T1. SMITHAM, OF TERRELL, TEXAS.

CLAW-BAR FOR DRAWING RAlLROAD-S-PIKES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,155, dated November 5, 1901.

Application filed June 3, 1901. Serial N0-62|942| (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS L. SMITHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terrell, in the county of Kaufman and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Claw- Bar for Drawing Railroad-Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved claw-bar for drawing railroad-spikes, the object of my invention being to provide the bar with a pivoted fulcrum-piece which is adapted to facilitate the engagement of the toe or claw of the bar with the head of a spike, to increase the leverage of the bar in withdrawing the spike, and to provide means to relieve the pivots or trunnions of the f ulcrum-piece of stress when the bar is being operated to draw a spike.

To these ends my invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a claw-bar constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in its initial position for operation prior to the engagement of the claw or toe of the bar with the head of a spike. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same, showing theclaw or toe of the bar in engagement with the head of a spike. Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the claw-bar disposed in position to withdraw the spike with the fulcrum-piece swung under the foot of the clawbar and with the latter bearing on the fulcrum-piece and the pivots or trunnions of the fulcrum-piece relieved of stress. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the fulcrum-piece.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide the bar 1 with a foot 2, the lower side of which is curved, as at 3. At the front end or toe of the foot is a claw 4, which is suitably fashioned to adapt the same for engagement with the head of a railway-spike. The foot -is further provided with the heel 5, which prothe arms 7 are formed integrally with the fulcrum-piece and are provided with trunnions 9, which engage openings with which the claw-bar is provided. It will be observed by reference to the drawings that .the fulcrumpiece is adapted to be swung outwardly in rear of the heel of the claw-bar and is also adapted to be moved forwardly under andin contact with the foot of the claw-bar.

In operation my improved claw-bar is initially disposed, as shown in Fig. 2,with the fulcrum-piece turned rearwardly and disposed at a suitable angle under the heel of the claw bar and with its biting lower edge 10 embedded in the upper side of the cross-tie. The toe or claw of the draw-bar may then by turning the upper end of the claw-bar rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, be brought into engagement with the head of the spike. Vith the toe of the claw-bar thus in engagement with the head of the spike the claw-bar is turned upwardly to approximately a vertical position and the fulcrum-piece moved for wardly under the same until it contacts with the lower side of the foot of the claw-bar, as shown in Fig. 4. Thereby the pivots or trunnions of the fulcrum-piece are relieved of all stress. The fulcrum-piece afiords increased leverage for the claw-bar, and by then operating the latter as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4 the claw-bar readily withdraws the spike.

It will be understood from an inspection of Fig. 4 of the drawings that after the fulcrumpiece has'been moved forwardly under and in contact with the lower side of the foot of the claw-bar said fulcrum-piece rocks upon its lower edge 10 with the claw-bar as the upper end of the latter is moved rearwardly in causing its claws to draw the spike.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A claw-bar of the class described having a foot with a rearwardly-projecting heel, a forwardly curved fulcrum piece pivotally connected to the heel thereof, and adapted to be swung forward under and in contact with the foot of the claw-bar to relieve the pivots of the fulcrum-piece of stress and to afiord leverage for the claw-bar when withdrawing a spike, said f ulcrum-piece when moved forward under andin contact with the lower side of the claw-bar foot forming a rocking support for the claw-bar, which turns with the latter when drawing a spike, substantially as described.

forward under and in contact with the lower side of the claw-bar foot forming a rocking 2. Aclaw-barof the class described,having support for the elaw-bar, which turns with a foot provided with a heel and toe, and a forwardly curved fulcrum piece pivotally connected to the heel of the claw-bar and adapted to be swung forwardly under the foot of the claw-bar and to contact therewith prior to the operation of the bar in Withdrawing the spike, to relieve the pivots of the fulcrumpiece of stress and to afford leverage for the claw-bar, said fulcrum-piece, when moved the latter when drawing a spike, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' NICHOLAS L. SMITHAM.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH H. SMITHAM, JOHN HINEs. 

